Pin-setter for bowling-alleys.



F. C. HOBBS.

PIN SETTER FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1915. 1,158,69. PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. C. HOBBS.

PIN SETTER FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

1,153,689 Patented Sept. 14,1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

F. c. HOBBS.

PIN SETTER FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

1,153,689., Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

I 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F. C. HOBBS.

PIN SETTER FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1915.

1,153,689. Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

ATES FATENT @FFIQE.

\ FRANK C. HOBBS, 0F MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWICK-BARKE- COLLENDER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PIN-SETTER FOR IBOWLING-ALLEYS.

Specification of Letters Patent. A

Application filed May 3, 1915. Serial No. 25,442.

bowling alleys and its object is to provide a machine of this character for rapidly and accurately setting the pins upon the spots on the bed of the alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of simple and inexpensive construction, comprising only a few parts, and which will operate automatically as the machine is moved from elevated to lowered position to set and spot the pins.

The invention has other objects in view which will appear hereafter in the detail description of the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation showing the machine in elevated posltion in full lines and in lowered position in broken lines; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the frame in lowered position; Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional views of a pocket with a pin therein in elevated position and in lowered position, respectively; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a portion of the machine showing a pocket on a larger scale than shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises a frame 7 which is generally triangular in shape and provided with a plurality of transverse rods 8 and longitudinal bars 9. The frame has rearwardly extending arms 7' which are pivoted at 10 to the kick-backs 11. A counter-balance weight 12 is carried by chains 13 which are connected to the arms 7 and travel over sprockets 15 suitably mounted on the kick-backs. The arrangement is such that the triangular frame will operate above the pin end of the alley bed 16, swinging on the pivot 10, and the weight should be suflicient to just counterbalance the frame when loaded with pins so that it can easily be moved to lowered position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. One or more cushioned stops 14 on the frame are arranged to engage the alley and l mit the downward movement of the machine. The frame is provided with a plurallty of pockets, one for each pin, and the pins are supported in reclining position in the pockets while the frame is elevated, and

Patented Sept. Ml, 19115.

are automatically turned to upright position and centered on the spots by the pockets when the frame is in lowered position, the extent of movement of the frame being indicated in Fig. 1. In the embodiment of this invention illustrated in the drawings, each pocket 17 is independent of the others and is plvoted at 18 to adjacent bars 9 of the frame. The pocket has an upward extens1on 19 forming a guide to engage the head of the pin, a projection 20 to engage a bar 8 and limit the swinging movement of the pocket to normal position, (Fig. 3) and a body guide 21 to support and center the pin. Each pocket is provided at the front thereof with a bottom guide 22 which is operated by engagement with the bed of the alley to swing the pocket on the pivot 18 when the frame is moved to lowered position. This a bottom guide is pivoted at 23 in the ears 24 on the pocket and carries an anti-friction roller 25 to engage and travel on the alley bed. Just above the roller 25 the bottom guide is shaped at 26 to engage the base of the pin and cooperate with the head guide 19 and body guide 21 to center the pin in upright position on the spot of the alley bed. The bottom guide projects upwardly and forwardly from pivot 23 and is provided with a slot 27 to engage a cross rod 28 mounted in the bars 9, and this engagement of the slot with the rod 28 limits the movement of the bottom guide and the pocket to setting position (Fig. 4). A cross rod 29 is mounted in cars 30 on the frame above each cross rod 8. This cross rod 29 serves to receive the impact of the pin while being inserted in the pocket and also prevents the pin from tilting head-foremost out of the pocket when the pocket begins to move relative to the frame.

In practice the setter frame is arranged to swing in an are from the pin end of the alley bed to a position sufficiently elevated to clear the pins and not interfere with the game. In this elevated position the pockets are filled with pins which are inserted in the pockets in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 3, the base of the pin resting against the .front portion of the pocket, the body of the pin resting on the body guide21, and the shoulder of the pin engaging the rods 8 and 29. The pins may be readily thrown into the pockets to assume this position without necessitating any special manipulation thereof because the body guides and the rods 8 and 29 are so located with reference to each other and the front part of the pockets as to form cradles to receive and hold the pins in this position. The counter-balance weight is preferably proportioned to the weight of the loaded frame to hold the frame in elevated position but it may be caused to descend to setting position on the alley bed when slight pressure is applied by the pin-boy to the frame. The position of each pin in the pocket and of the pocket with relation to the frame is maintained until the bottom guide engages the alley bed, whereupon the bottom guide moves inwardly toward the spot on the alley bed and the pocket moves upward relatively to the frame. As the pocket begins this relative movement, swingin on pivot 18, its front part slides up against the bottom of the pin and pushes the pin lengthwise against rods 8 and 29. At the same time the body guide 21 moves downward so that the pin may swing on rod 8 as a pivot free from rod 29 as the upward movement of the pocket causes the bottom of the pin to slide on to the bottom guide 22. The pin continues its downward sliding movement thus begun until it engages the alley bed in up right position, at which time the pocket has come to rest and the pin is centered on the spot by the head guide, body ghide and bottom guide. The stops 14 limit the downward movement of the frame, the engagement of the lower end of slot 27 with rod 28 limits the inward swinging movement of the bottom guide and the projection 20 limits the swinging movement of the pocket to normal elevated position. After the pins have been set in the manner described the frame is returned to elevated osition by the counter-balance weight and if this movement does not take place automatically it can be easily induced by a slight pull on the frame. As the frame moves to elevated position the pockets swing to normal position by gravity ready to receive the pins. At the beginning of this upward movement of the frame the pin guides all move outward away from the pin without jarring or moving it from its position on the spot, since the pocket immediately begins to swing back to normal position by the top guide forwar and downward relative to the frame, the bottom guide forward and upward relative to the frame and the (gravity, thus moving body guide upward and rearward relative to the frame.

My invention provides a pin-setting machine of very simple construction and comparatively few parts which is capable of being operated rapidly to set and spot the pins accurately upon the alley bed. The operation of the pockets is entirely automatic and the machine may be balanced so that only a very little pressure is required to lower the frame when loaded and very little pull is required to start it on the return movement. The movement of the pins from horizontal position at rest in the pockets to set position on the alley bed is accomplished without producing any appreciable noise and the arrangement is such that the pins will necessarily slide into centered position on the spots on the alley bed. This is due to the fact that the center of gravity of the pin shifts while the frame is descending and the weight of the pin is suflicient to cause it to swing freely on the rod 8 and drop to upright position at which time the head. body and bottom guides of the pocket are in poiitiion to properly spot the pin on the alley To facilitate the movement of the frame and guide it properly I preferably employ guide rollers 31 which are mounted suitably in the frame at the sides'thereof, to travel in contact with the kick-backs (Fig. 2). And to expedite the movement of the pin relative to the pocket I may incline the pocket outwardly at 32 so that the pin will be enabled to slide freely and quickly relative to the pocket at the proper time to insure positive and rapid operation of the machine.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof and I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the

combination of a pivoted frame, a movable pocket for each pin on the frame, and independent means for actuating each pocket.

2. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, a plurality of movable pockets, one for each pin, separately mounted on the frame, and independent means for actuating. each pocket.

3. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the

combination of "a pivoted frame, a plurality of movable pockets, one for each pin, separately mounted on the frame, and individual means for moving each of said pockets independently of the frame.

4. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, a plurality of pockets, one for each pin, on the frame, and individual means for bodily moving each of said pockets relatively to the frame. 5. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, a plurality of pockets, one for each pin, separately mounted on the frame, and individual means for bodily moving each of said pockets relatively to the frame.

6. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, a plurality of pockets, one for each pin, pivotally mounted on the frame separately from each other and bodily movable with the frame, and individual means for moving each of said pockets bodily and relatively to the frame.

7. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the

combination of a pivoted frame adapted to swing between position elevated above the alley bed to position adjacent to the alley bed, a plurality of pockets movably mounted on the frame and adapted to receive the pins in substantially horizontal position while the frame is elevated, and independent means for moving each pocket relatively to the frame to discharge the pins on to the alley bed in upright position.

8. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, and a plurality of pockets pivotally mounted on the frame, each pocket having a bottom guide arranged to engage the alley bed to swing the pocket relatively to the frame.

9. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, and a plur'ality of pockets pivotally and separately mounted on the frame, each pocket having a bottom guide arranged to engage the alley bed to cause the pocket to swing relatively to the frame.

10. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, and a plurality of pockets pivotally mounted on the frame, each pocket having a bottom guide pivotally mounted thereon to engage the alley bed and cause the pocket to swing relatively to the frame.

11. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, a plurality of pockets pivotally mounted on the frame, each pocket having a bottom guide pivotally mounted thereon to engage the alley bed and cause the pocket to swing relatively to the frame, and means for guiding and limiting the movement of the bottom guide.

12. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, a plurality of pockets pivot-ally mounted on the frame, each pocket having a bottom guide pivoted thereon to engage the alley bed and cause the pocket to swing relatively to the frame, a rod on the frame, and an extension on said bottom guide engaging said rod to guide combination of a frame, and a plurality of I pin pockets pivotally mounted on the frame, each of said pockets having a head guide, a body guide and a bottom guide for the pin.

15. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the

combination of a frame, and a plurality 01 pin pockets thereon, each of said pockets having a head guide, a'body guide and a bottom guide for the pin when the latter is disposed upon the alley bed, the head and bottom guides being arranged to engage the pin on one side and the body guide being arranged to engage the pin on the opposite side thereof.

16. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a frame, and a plurality of pin pockets thereon, each of said pockets having guides one above the other for the head, body and bottom of the pin when the latter is disposed upon the alley. bed, the head and bottom guides being arranged to engage the pin on one side and the body guide being arranged to engage the pin on the opposite side thereof.

17 In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a frame, and a plurality of pin pockets pivotally mounted thereon, each of said pockets having means for engaging the pin at three points of contact, two on one side of the pin and the other on the opposite side of the pin and intermediate of said two contact points.

18. In a pin setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a frame, and a plurality of pin pockets mounted on the frame, each of said pockets having three guides for the pin, two of said guides being fixed relatively to each other and one of said guides being movable relative to the fixed guide.

19. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a frame, and a plurality of pin pockets pivotally mounted on the frame, each of said pockets having at the front thereof a head guide and a bottom guide arranged one above the other and a body guide intermediate of the head and bottom guides and out of alinement therewith.

20. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a movable frame, and a plu rality of pin, pockets mounted thereon, each of said pockets having a plurality of guides to position the pin on the alley bed and each of said guides being movable outwardly away from the pin as the frame is elevated.

21. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, and a plurality of pockets pivotally mounted on the frame, each of said pockets having a guide to engage the head of the pin, and a pivoted bottom guide arranged to engage the alley bed to cause the pocket to move relatively to the frame and shaped to engage the pin at the bottom thereof.

22. In a pin-setter for'bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame having a plurality of pockets, one for each pin, and a cross rod stationary on the frame to cooperate with the pocket to support a pin in substantially horizontal position.

23. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame having a plurality of pockets therein, one for each pm, a cross rod on the frame to cooperate with the pocket to support a pin in substantially horizontal position, and a bottom guide on the pocket adapted to engage the alley bed to move the pocket relative to the frame.

24. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame having a plurality of pockets therein, one for each pin, each of said pockets comp-rising a guide to engage the head of the pm, a cross rod on the frame to cooperate with the pocket to support the pin in substantially horizontal position, and a bottom guide pivotally mounted on the pocket to engage the the bottom thereof.

25. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a movable frame, a plurality of movable pin pockets mounted on the frame, and an individual means for actuating each pocket and guiding the pin therein.

26. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted'frame, a plurality of pin pockets pivotally mounted on the frame, and an individual means for actuating each pocket and guiding the pin therein.

27. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a pivoted frame, means for normally sustaining said frame in elevated position angularly disposed above the alley bed, a plurality of pin pockets pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to receive and sustain the pins in substantially horizontal position while the frame is in elevated position, and means for swinging said pockets on their pivots to upright and set the pins upon the alley bed when the frame is swung to lowered position.

FRANK G. HOBBS.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE. 

